For couples · Manila · Philippines
Romantic things to do in Manila
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: SeamanWell, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Romance in Manila means bay sunsets, candlelit dinners in heritage settings and rooftop bars over the city lights. Couples tend to stay in Intramuros.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 5
- Couple-friendly sights
- 1
- Area for couples
- Intramuros
- Best months
- March
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset on Manila Bay
Watch the sun set over the bay from the Baywalk or a bayside restaurant.
2.Kalesa ride in Intramuros
Tour the walled city in a horse-drawn carriage in the late afternoon.
3.Rooftop drinks in Makati or BGC
Cocktails above the skyline in one of the districts' rooftop bars.
4.Tagaytay escape
Spend a day on the cool ridge overlooking Taal Lake, with lunch at a viewpoint restaurant.
5.Modern Filipino tasting menu
Book a chef-led dinner exploring regional Filipino flavours.
Sights couples love
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Waterfront · Ermita and Malate
Manila Bay sunset
Clear evenings in the dry season, roughly December to April, give the best colours.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Views
- After dark
- Photo spot
Where couples should stay
$$ · Best for culture, couples and quiet stays
Intramuros
Staying inside Intramuros means waking up among colonial churches and stone walls, within walking distance of Fort Santiago, San Agustin and the Manila Cathedral. There are only a handful of hotels, and the area is quiet after dark.
- Good
- Historic setting; Early starts at the main sights; Quiet nights
- Watch out
- Few hotels and restaurants; Far from Makati nightlife
- Nearby
- Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral, Rizal Park
Romantic day trips
- Tagaytay and Taal Volcano (About 1.5–2.5 hours by road) — A cool ridge town overlooking Taal Lake and the active Taal Volcano, with viewpoint restaurants, bulalo beef-marrow soup and fruit stands.
- Antipolo and Pinto Art Museum (About 1–1.5 hours by road) — A hillside town east of Manila known for its pilgrimage cathedral, suman rice cakes and cashews, and the Pinto Art Museum, a large collection of contemporary Filipino art in white Mediterranean-style pavilions and gardens.
- Anilao, Batangas (About 2.5–3.5 hours by road) — A coastline of dive resorts known for macro diving and snorkelling over reefs with nudibranchs and small marine life; most visitors stay a night or two rather than returning the same day.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Adobo, Sinigang and Lechon. Many restaurants are busy at weekends with families; book ahead for popular places.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Manila romantic?
Romance in Manila means bay sunsets, candlelit dinners in heritage settings and rooftop bars over the city lights.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Manila?
Sunset on Manila Bay: Watch the sun set over the bay from the Baywalk or a bayside restaurant.
+Where should couples stay in Manila?
Intramuros: The walled Spanish city, with a few heritage hotels inside the walls.